Party Profile: United Torah Judaism
Profile of United Torah Judaism, the Ashkenazi Haredi joint list now running as three components, with its list and draft-exemption demand.
United Torah Judaism, the Ashkenazi Haredi joint list headed by Yaakov Asher, averaged 7.6 seats in polls from 24 September to 7 October 2026. It filed one slate with three components. This profile covers its list, its draft exemption demand and its coalition stance.
Who they are
United Torah Judaism (UTJ) is the joint list of the Ashkenazi Haredi parties. It has traditionally been two parties: Degel HaTorah, the Lithuanian faction, and Agudat Yisrael, the Hasidic one. In 2026 it is really three components.
| Leader | Yaakov Asher (list head) |
| Ballot letter | ג (Gimel) |
| Poll average (24 Sep to 7 Oct) | 7.6 seats |
| Camp | Coalition |
| Space | Ashkenazi Haredi, Torah-first, welfare for large families |
| Coalition stance | Backs Netanyahu, but demands a full draft exemption first |
The split inside the list matters. On the evening of 5 Sept, Rabbi Dov Lando's office confirmed that Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev were dropped from the list. Yaakov Asher replaces Gafni, who was the face of Degel for decades. On 8 Sept, the list deadline, Meir Porush and Elyakim Stark announced their own faction, Chomat Torat Yisrael. UTJ still filed one slate. It now has Degel, Agudat Yisrael under Yitzhak Goldknopf, and the Porush and Stark group.
The list: who is likely to get in
At 7.6 seats the top seven or eight are in. Slots 9 to 13 are lower confidence in my sources.
| # | Name | Age |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yaakov Asher | 61 |
| 2 | Yitzhak Goldknopf | 75 |
| 3 | Yitzhak Pindrus | 55 |
| 4 | Meir Porush | 71 |
| 5 | Moshe Rosenthal | n/a |
| 6 | Elyakim Stark | n/a |
| 7 | Yehuda Weissfish | n/a |
| 8 | Yaakov Tessler | 53 |
| 9 | David Saltz | n/a |
| 10 | David Ohana | n/a |
| 11 | Moshe Roth | n/a |
| 12 | Eliyahu Baruchi | n/a |
| 13 | Yisrael Porush | n/a |
Yaakov Asher (1). A Degel HaTorah MK and the head of the list. He rose after Gafni's removal.
Yitzhak Goldknopf (2). Chair of Agudat Yisrael, 75. A former Housing Minister, and a controversial figure even inside the Haredi world.
Yitzhak Pindrus (3). A Degel HaTorah MK, 55.
Meir Porush (4). A veteran Agudat Yisrael politician, 71, and a former minister. He co-founded Chomat Torat Yisrael with Stark.
Elyakim Stark (6). The other co-founder of Chomat Torat Yisrael.
Yaakov Tessler (8). An Agudat Yisrael MK, 53.
Others on the list. Rosenthal (5), Weissfish (7), Saltz (9), Ohana (10), Roth (11), Baruchi (12) and Yisrael Porush (13) have thinner public profiles.
Note: Haredi list orders are often fluid until the filing deadline and shift with rabbinic instruction. Check against the Central Elections Committee publication.
Platform and coalition plans
| Issue | Position |
|---|---|
| Draft | Full exemption for Torah students, in law |
| Ministries | No ministerial posts until the exemption law passes |
| Education | Keep independent Haredi schools |
| Coalition | Backs Netanyahu, with the draft as the price |
UTJ's one demand is the draft exemption. It says it will not take ministries until the law passes. That position helped break the 37th government. If Netanyahu cannot deliver the law, UTJ will again be the hardest partner in his coalition. See the Government and Opposition article for the history.
Sources: Party list filings; Israeli media coverage of the Gafni and Maklev removal and the Chomat Torat Yisrael split, Sept 2026; poll tracking, 24 Sept to 7 Oct.
Frequently asked questions
Who leads United Torah Judaism?
Yaakov Asher, 61, heads the list. On 5 September Rabbi Dov Lando's office confirmed that Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev were dropped. Yitzhak Goldknopf is number 2.
What is United Torah Judaism's ballot letter?
United Torah Judaism's ballot letter is Gimel (ג). It averaged 7.6 seats in polls from 24 September to 7 October. Yaakov Asher heads the list and Yitzhak Goldknopf is second.
What are the three components of United Torah Judaism?
They are Degel HaTorah, Agudat Yisrael under Yitzhak Goldknopf, and Chomat Torat Yisrael. Meir Porush and Elyakim Stark announced the third on 8 September. UTJ still filed one slate.
What does United Torah Judaism want on the draft?
It wants a full exemption for Torah students, in law. It says it will not take ministerial posts until the exemption law passes. It backs Netanyahu, with the draft as the price.
Cite this page: The Israel Gazette. “Party Profile: United Torah Judaism.” Updated 9 October 2026. https://israelgazette.com/election/party-profile-united-torah-judaism/